Final SNF PPS Rule for FY 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rule for fiscal year (FY) 2016. This rule includes new Medicare Part A rates effective Oct. 1, 2015 and important changes in payment policies. The LeadingAge New York analysis includes:
- Brief summaries of the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program (VBP); Quality Reporting Program;
- Review of the new Staffing Data Collection Inititiative (Payroll Based Journal);
- A summary of the factors impacting the SNF PPS rates and related programmatic issues;
- Directions on using the LeadingAge national SNF PPS rate tool;
- An update on changes to the wage index and core based statistical areas (CBSAs);
- Updated final rule wage index listing for New York; and
- Listings of FY 2016 SNF PPS rates by New York State region;
As always, the release of this final rule is important for SNF providers, however, with the additional changes regarding VBP, QRP and staffing data it is especially critical that members are prepared for these significant changes which CMS is implementing over the coming years.
The major programmatic changes found in the SNF PPS final rule are coming at the same time as CMS is also proposing the first major revisions to the federal nursing home regulations since 1991. LeadingAge NY has also provided members with detailed information on the proposed changes in regulations. Please be sure to join us for a member-only teleconference on Mon., Aug., 17th from 1 – 2:00 p.m. to review the proposed rule on regulatory changes. For more information contact: Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832.
Our members continue to confront major changes on both the Medicare and Medicaid fronts and LeadingAge NY is committed to providing our members with the most up-to-date information, guidance and tools needed to deal with the changes.
Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@eadingageny.org , 518-867-8866; or Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8827